Trial set for Lakeport man accused of shooting at utility workers

LAKEPORT -- A judge Wednesday confirmed next week's trial for a Lakeport man facing attempted murder and other felonies for allegedly shooting at utility workers outside his home last summer.

Dennis Leroy Cato, 64, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to all seven felony counts stemming from an incident during which authorities allege he shot at, but did not hit, two PG&E subcontractors finishing up work at his Hill Road East home Aug. 29.

Wearing a black- and white-striped jail uniform and sitting in a wheelchair, Cato appeared before assigned Judge David W. Herrick Wednesday afternoon at the Lake County Courthouse.

Herrick, a retired Lake County judge, conducted a trial-readiness conference after saying it looked as if the parties would not resolve the case before trial.

Cato initially told the judge he never heard about the Lake County District Attorney's Office making an offer but later said he and his public defender, Komnith Moth, talked about the prosecution proposing a plea bargain with a maximum 14-year prison sentence.

"That's not acceptable," Cato said of the prosecution's offer.

After listening to the defendant's comments, the judge completed the pretrial conference and confirmed the case for trial April 17.

Deputy DA Susan Krones, who is prosecuting the case, said she might end up filing a motion to postpone the trial in the meantime, depending on the contents of a defense expert's report she expects to receive for the first time today.

Cato, who remains in custody at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, is set to return to court Friday for trial assignment. The attorneys estimated the trial would last six or seven days.

Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow his court coverage on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh or #Lakecourt.